Foods to stay away from/ minimize?

Addisonquinn

2 months ago I was 125 and now I'm 137, the holidays came around and I got really off track. Especially with all the sweets at work. One thing I have noticed though is that I drink milk all the time and lots of bread, should I try cutting them out more? I have really limited the sweets but with working out I feel like I should be losing more. Thanks in advance!

Rocbola

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

jzammetti

I dont avoid anything, really. I just track everything and make sure I don't exceed my daily caloric needs (except occassionally!) :happy:

currierand

I dont avoid anything, really. I just track everything and make sure I don't exceed my daily caloric needs (except occassionally!) :happy:

I agree with this. Minimize perhaps, if certain foods cause problems or are "trigger" foods, but nothing (within reason) should be "off limits" in my opinion.

But, to be fair, I am not a Doctor and I do not play one on TV, so what do I know?

RoadsterGirlie

The only thing that I've cut almost 100% completely out would be french fries, potato chips, and anything you can find in a box or bag at a gas station.

Other than that, I eat all good things, in moderation, using portion control.

My main priority through the day is getting all my good health guidelines in (it's a weight watcher thing), which includes 5 to 6 servings of veggies and fruit, 2 to 3 lean protein, at least 2 dairy products, and a small serving of healthy oil (ie olive oil).

As long as I meet those guidelines for the day, I can have anything I want as long as it's still within my calorie budget, even if it's ice cream and pie.

They also give you a set amount of weekly points in addition to your daily, which can be used for splurges (ie parties, restaurant dining, etc.)

It's not a diet, but a lifestyle. One of the many rewards of making it to goal is I get a higher amount of calories/points to play with, than if I were still in weight loss mode. It's pretty freaking awesome.

hiker359

Pretty simple in most cases. Buy the bulk of your food from the perimeter of the store and steer clear of wandering up and down the aisles. The perimiter is where the produce and (mostly) non precessed meats hang out.

lovinmyselfagain

I would minimize fried/ breaded food, sugary drinks, high sodium foods, fatty meats, etc...opt instead for baked, roasted or grilled lean cuts of meat-boneless/skinless chicken breasts, lean ground turkey/beef, salmon, etc, drink more water, eat more veggies, fruits, beans, nuts, and whole grains. Choose "natural" peanut butter that doesn't have added sugar, but avoid "reduced fat or fat free, because the fat in PB is what makes it good for you. When using oil stick with olive or canola. Up your fiber and protein intake, as well. And again don't totally avoid "fats", just mainly stick with the "good fats" , monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in olive oil, almonds, avocados, etc....Also buy a food scale to accurately determine portion sizes. And like the above person stated you don't have to totally avoid the bad stuff all the time. It's about eating a healthy, balanced diet and living a healthy, balanced life, which sometimes will involve pizza, cake, etc...just learn to moderate your portions and choose wisely.

bodiva88

I dont avoid anything, really. I just track everything and make sure I don't exceed my daily caloric needs (except occassionally!) :happy:

This.

By tracking, I come to realize what is calorie dense that I have to be careful about. But I also am able to continue to enjoy food, in all its variety. The only way I can imagine being successful in the long term.

ETA: I do avoid fried foods, mostly because they make me fell ill. And nothing tastes good enough for that to make sense to me.

Going4Lean

everything in moderation/ portion control

bdamaster60

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

breads are fine
dairy is fine
oils are fine
Sugars are fine
meats are fine
salt is fine
food chemicals, I'll give you that one.

Addisonquinn

Thanks a ton everyone!

Sincere24

everything in moderation/ portion control

THIS, but avoid anything deep fried, loaded with an unnatural amount of sugar, oh and things that just plain riddled with processed junk

Rocbola

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

breads are fine
dairy is fine
oils are fine
Sugars are fine
meats are fine
salt is fine
food chemicals, I'll give you that one.

If you've made the decision to eat those things, fine, but don't suggest to someone else that they are perfectly ok to eat, because they are not. If you had a diet that was heavy on bread, dairy, oils, sugars, meats, and salt, you are a lot more likely to come down with one of the diseases that kills most people in this country. like heart disease.

You cannot escape the biological laws of cause and effect. If you eat that type of food, what happens to you will be the same thing that happens to everyone else who eats that food. I've known too many great people who died of heart disease to not take it seriously.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

The only things I avoid are foods that are not that important to me but that will make it harder to meet my goals. It's going to be different things for different people. For some it's really important to have real butter. I'm just as happy with light margarine so that's what I use because the calories are lower. Some would tell you to cut out potatoes and gravy, and usually I don't have them just because they're so calorie dense but on Thanksgiving and Christmas I enjoy them and don't feel guilty, because it's important to me to have them.

I don't believe that any food is innately bad, it's all about context.

LoraF83

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

Or you could just try eating in moderation and only cutting out the things that do not fit in your calorie/macro goals.

LoraF83

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

breads are fine
dairy is fine
oils are fine
Sugars are fine
meats are fine
salt is fine
food chemicals, I'll give you that one.

If you've made the decision to eat those things, fine, but don't suggest to someone else that they are perfectly ok to eat, because they are not. If you had a diet that was heavy on bread, dairy, oils, sugars, meats, and salt, you are a lot more likely to come down with one of the diseases that kills most people in this country. like heart disease.

You cannot escape the biological laws of cause and effect. If you eat that type of food, what happens to you will be the same thing that happens to everyone else who eats that food. I've known too many great people who died of heart disease to not take it seriously.

Links to the resesarch that supports your claims?

bdamaster60

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

breads are fine
dairy is fine
oils are fine
Sugars are fine
meats are fine
salt is fine
food chemicals, I'll give you that one.

If you've made the decision to eat those things, fine, but don't suggest to someone else that they are perfectly ok to eat, because they are not. If you had a diet that was heavy on bread, dairy, oils, sugars, meats, and salt, you are a lot more likely to come down with one of the diseases that kills most people in this country. like heart disease.

You cannot escape the biological laws of cause and effect. If you eat that type of food, what happens to you will be the same thing that happens to everyone else who eats that food. I've known too many great people who died of heart disease to not take it seriously.

If you eat the way as you proclaim yourself to eat you're going to have the same result as everyone else. Dead. Salt as in sodium you're body needs to regulate blood, fats from oils such as olive oil and flax seed oil propels organ function and bolsters the immune system. Dairy is source for calcium for healthy bone development and prevents cramps (sometimes). Sugars are just carbs, and energy source your body uses as fuel through daily activity and replenishes glycogen stores. Breads such as wholegrain breads are also carb sources with the inclusion of fibre emanating from the 'wholegrains' for slower digestion and slower release of sugar into the blood stream. Last my favourite meat, my favourite source of protein, give me a cow i'll cut its belly open and eat it any time. To build muscle the body requires protein for muscle protein synthesis obviously. Meats such as chicken, beef, turkey, duck, pork etc. have far a higher bio-availability than vegetables. And just for good measure I recently got my blood test results back from the doc, surprisingly all results were found superior to all of his patients. Why? because I hypertrophy resistance train.

Rocbola

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

breads are fine
dairy is fine
oils are fine
Sugars are fine
meats are fine
salt is fine
food chemicals, I'll give you that one.

If you've made the decision to eat those things, fine, but don't suggest to someone else that they are perfectly ok to eat, because they are not. If you had a diet that was heavy on bread, dairy, oils, sugars, meats, and salt, you are a lot more likely to come down with one of the diseases that kills most people in this country. like heart disease.

You cannot escape the biological laws of cause and effect. If you eat that type of food, what happens to you will be the same thing that happens to everyone else who eats that food. I've known too many great people who died of heart disease to not take it seriously.

If you eat the way as you proclaim yourself to eat you're going to have the same result as everyone else. Dead. Salt as in sodium you're body needs to regulate blood, fats from oils such as olive oil and flax seed oil propels organ function and bolsters the immune system. Dairy is source for calcium for healthy bone development and prevents cramps (sometimes). Sugars are just carbs, and energy source your body uses as fuel through daily activity and replenishes glycogen stores. Breads such as wholegrain breads are also carb sources with the inclusion of fibre emanating from the 'wholegrains' for slower digestion and slower release of sugar into the blood stream. Last my favourite meat, my favourite source of protein, give me a cow i'll cut its belly open and eat it any time. To build muscle the body requires protein for muscle protein synthesis obviously. Meats such as chicken, beef, turkey, duck, pork etc. have far a higher bio-availability than vegetables. And just for good measure I recently got my blood test results back from the doc, surprisingly all results were found superior to all of his patients. Why? because I hypertrophy resistance train.

Brawndo has what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.

Rocbola

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

Or you could just try eating in moderation and only cutting out the things that do not fit in your calorie/macro goals.

That is an acceptable answer. By wanting to limit the amounts of these items, you are at least admitting to yourself that they are not healthy. The other guy said simply that they were "fine" which i don't agree with.

jennfranklin

Processed and pre-packaged foods!

bdamaster60

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

breads are fine
dairy is fine
oils are fine
Sugars are fine
meats are fine
salt is fine
food chemicals, I'll give you that one.

If you've made the decision to eat those things, fine, but don't suggest to someone else that they are perfectly ok to eat, because they are not. If you had a diet that was heavy on bread, dairy, oils, sugars, meats, and salt, you are a lot more likely to come down with one of the diseases that kills most people in this country. like heart disease.

You cannot escape the biological laws of cause and effect. If you eat that type of food, what happens to you will be the same thing that happens to everyone else who eats that food. I've known too many great people who died of heart disease to not take it seriously.

If you eat the way as you proclaim yourself to eat you're going to have the same result as everyone else. Dead. Salt as in sodium you're body needs to regulate blood, fats from oils such as olive oil and flax seed oil propels organ function and bolsters the immune system. Dairy is source for calcium for healthy bone development and prevents cramps (sometimes). Sugars are just carbs, and energy source your body uses as fuel through daily activity and replenishes glycogen stores. Breads such as wholegrain breads are also carb sources with the inclusion of fibre emanating from the 'wholegrains' for slower digestion and slower release of sugar into the blood stream. Last my favourite meat, my favourite source of protein, give me a cow i'll cut its belly open and eat it any time. To build muscle the body requires protein for muscle protein synthesis obviously. Meats such as chicken, beef, turkey, duck, pork etc. have far a higher bio-availability than vegetables. And just for good measure I recently got my blood test results back from the doc, surprisingly all results were found superior to all of his patients. Why? because I hypertrophy resistance train.

Brawndo has what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.

I'm not a plant, what is your point with this statement?

yourenotmine

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

breads are fine
dairy is fine
oils are fine
Sugars are fine
meats are fine
salt is fine
food chemicals, I'll give you that one.

If you've made the decision to eat those things, fine, but don't suggest to someone else that they are perfectly ok to eat, because they are not. If you had a diet that was heavy on bread, dairy, oils, sugars, meats, and salt, you are a lot more likely to come down with one of the diseases that kills most people in this country. like heart disease.

You cannot escape the biological laws of cause and effect. If you eat that type of food, what happens to you will be the same thing that happens to everyone else who eats that food. I've known too many great people who died of heart disease to not take it seriously.

If you eat the way as you proclaim yourself to eat you're going to have the same result as everyone else. Dead. Salt as in sodium you're body needs to regulate blood, fats from oils such as olive oil and flax seed oil propels organ function and bolsters the immune system. Dairy is source for calcium for healthy bone development and prevents cramps (sometimes). Sugars are just carbs, and energy source your body uses as fuel through daily activity and replenishes glycogen stores. Breads such as wholegrain breads are also carb sources with the inclusion of fibre emanating from the 'wholegrains' for slower digestion and slower release of sugar into the blood stream. Last my favourite meat, my favourite source of protein, give me a cow i'll cut its belly open and eat it any time. To build muscle the body requires protein for muscle protein synthesis obviously. Meats such as chicken, beef, turkey, duck, pork etc. have far a higher bio-availability than vegetables. And just for good measure I recently got my blood test results back from the doc, surprisingly all results were found superior to all of his patients. Why? because I hypertrophy resistance train.

Brawndo has what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.

I'm not a plant, what is your point with this statement?

It's a movie quote...

Crankstr

Both dairy and bread would be something to avoid/minimize.

Also:
oils
refined grains
sugars
meats (especially processed)
salt
food chemicals

breads are fine
dairy is fine
oils are fine
Sugars are fine
meats are fine
salt is fine
food chemicals, I'll give you that one.

If you've made the decision to eat those things, fine, but don't suggest to someone else that they are perfectly ok to eat, because they are not. If you had a diet that was heavy on bread, dairy, oils, sugars, meats, and salt, you are a lot more likely to come down with one of the diseases that kills most people in this country. like heart disease.

You cannot escape the biological laws of cause and effect. If you eat that type of food, what happens to you will be the same thing that happens to everyone else who eats that food. I've known too many great people who died of heart disease to not take it seriously.

Links to the resesarch that supports your claims?

yes please...these foods ARE fine as part of a healthy diet.

bdamaster60

It's a movie quote...

okay ? can you enlighten me to its meaning?

MoreBean13

Do you track your calories? If you don't, you should. Track calories and stay where you need to be based on your energy expenditure, and you do NOT need to limit any foods or food groups to maintain or lose weight.

Eta: I sometimes drink over a quart of whole milk a day on my weight loss program.

MaraDiaz

The foods I'm trying to avoid are the ones setting off cravings and excessive hunger, the foods that, shortly after I eat them, send me roaming through town with my brain screaming, "Need cheeseburger! Need pastry and chocolate! Need ice cream and need egg nog! Need all now!"

What those foods are might be different for other people, though.

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

Before the thread gets hijacked,

I wouldn't avoid the foods you love, just portion them. Use a food scale. I got mine at the grocery store for less than 9 bucks, but you can get them for cheap at Target or WalMart. Read the labels on the package and stick with that amount.

Get in the habit of using the wet and dry measures every time you eat at home. After a while, even when you're in a restaurant, you can eyeball it pretty accurately.

I eat ice cream almost every day. Measured and portioned for accuracy. I eat pizza way more than I should admit, but also portioned.

Stay in calorie guidelines, keep your macros and micros reasonably portioned so you don't get hungry (eat more protein, but don't give up carbs), and it'll work itself out.

poedunk65

Read or watch Forks Over KNives. That will help greatly.

Victoria2448

Processed food and stuff with artificial flavoring, colors, HFCS, and trans fats.

sunsnstatheart

Any food will make you fat if you eat too many calories. Don't get sucked into thinking that you need to torture yourself by cutting out the food you love to lose weight. There are plenty of people here who have success with the simple approach of eating below their total daily energy expenditure and throwing in a little exercise.

I think you'll also notice that the people who have been working out the longest and had the most long term success follow the above approach, with a few exceptions. And just because someone does follow some extreme diet doesn't mean that the specific diet they are following is a necessary part of the equation. There are of course those people that actually do need to cut out certain foods but talk to your doctor first. You definitely shouldn't depend on the forums to provide that level of advice.

UpEarly

It's a movie quote...

okay ? can you enlighten me to its meaning?

It's from 'Idiocracy' and I think he might be implying that you're a fool and you've been duped by the food industry. The poster, Rocbola, is very radical and stringent in his definition of 'healthy food'. I would just ignore him.